Multi-Alarm Fire Damages Part of Gloucester Twp. Howard Johnson Hotel

An early morning fire blazed through Howard Johnson Hotel on Route 168 in Gloucester Township causing significant damage.

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The flames broke out 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, and quickly grew to four-alarms, according to Patch.com.

Gloucester Township Police received several calls reporting the fire at Howard Johnson Hotel, located 832 North Black Horse Pike in Blackwood. Responding officers arrived to find heavy fire pouring from the roof, according to a GTPD press release shared with Townsquare Media.  The hotel's occupants were evacuated as several local fire companies arrived to help battle the blaze, which spread to two of HoJo's three buildings.

It reportedly took crews approximately two hours to get the fire under control. Thankfully, there are no reports of any injuries, but many of the hotel residents were displaced, according to Gloucester Township Police. Authorities expect a section of the Black Horse Pike near the hotel, between Almonesson Road and Brown Ave., to be closed for a period of time while they continue to investigate the cause of the fire. Gloucester Twp. Police Lt. Mark Benton and Captain Brendan Barton say many agencies are assisting their investigation.

Video of the destructive scene was posted to Facebook by Camden County IAFF Local 3249.

Temps dropped into the 30's last night in the Gloucester Twp. area, so it's awful that Howard Johnson's guests were awoken not only by news of a fire in the hotel, but evacuated out into the freezing cold. Not a pleasant experience, but a relief that no one was hurt. A bus was brought in for the guests and hotel employees who had to escape. Patch.com reports.

SOURCES: Press Release by Lt. Mark Benton # 149, Captain Brendan Barton #156, Gloucester Twp. Police Dept.; Patch.com via Gloucester Township Patch/Facebook

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